Product Development Engineer
Ashford, Kent | Hybrid working | £30,000 – £40,000 DOE
Are you an experienced Engineer who enjoys getting under the skin of a product, solving problems and working out why something isn’t working – and how to make it better?
We’re recruiting exclusively for an established international organisation looking to add a talented Engineer to a specialist product engineering team.
This isn’t a graduate role and it isn’t purely CAD/design. We’re looking for someone with real-world engineering experience who can combine practical technical ability with problem solving, testing, documentation and confident communication.
You’ll be supporting established engineered products throughout their lifecycle, investigating technical issues, helping maintain continuity of supply and working with colleagues and suppliers across different functions and locations.
There is flexibility around level: someone earlier in their engineering career with strong relevant experience could come in and develop, while a more accomplished Engineer could take greater ownership of complex projects and technical decisions.
What will you be doing?
- Investigating product, component and technical issues and working through solutions
- Planning and carrying out engineering tests and evaluating the results
- Supporting design changes, improvements and corrective actions
- Using CAD where required to support engineering and design activity
- Reviewing drawings, specifications and technical documentation
- Working with manufacturing, quality, commercial and other engineering teams
- Supporting projects involving existing products, components and processes
- Managing your own workload and taking ownership of technical actions
- Producing clear and accurate engineering documentation
- Working with colleagues and stakeholders internationally
- For a more experienced hire, taking the lead on projects and supporting less experienced Engineers
What are we looking for?
This role needs someone who already has a solid engineering foundation and can demonstrate relevant experience in industry.
- Previous professional engineering experience is essential – this is not a graduate opportunity
- A degree/HND/HNC or equivalent technical background in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design, Manufacturing Engineering or a closely related discipline
- Good all-round mechanical/product engineering knowledge
- Experience investigating and troubleshooting technical or product-related problems
- Exposure to engineering testing, validation, verification or similar practical technical work
- Ability to confidently interpret technical drawings, specifications and documentation
- Some CAD/design experience
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Excellent attention to detail
- Comfortable working within structured processes and documented procedures
- Able to communicate confidently with technical and non-technical stakeholders
- A proactive approach – someone who will investigate, question and take ownership rather than wait to be told what to do
- Full UK driving licence and your own transport
- Existing unrestricted right to work in the UK – sponsorship cannot be provided
Experience within a regulated, quality-led or highly controlled engineering/manufacturing environment would be particularly attractive, but we're open to different industry backgrounds where the underlying engineering skills are transferable.
Why consider this opportunity?
- £30,000 – £40,000 salary, dependent on the depth and relevance of your experience
- Scope for the role to be shaped around your existing level of expertise
- Hybrid working, with regular time at the Kent office
- Join a specialist engineering team working as part of a much larger international organisation
- Genuine variety – combining problem solving, testing, design, projects and cross-functional work
- Exposure to international teams and stakeholders
- Opportunity to take increasing technical ownership as you develop
- A role where your engineering decisions have a genuine impact on established products
- Excellent opportunity for someone who wants to broaden their experience rather than become pigeonholed into one narrow area of engineering
Please note: the upper end of the advertised salary range is reserved for candidates bringing substantial, directly relevant engineering experience and the ability to operate with a high level of independence from the outset.
Pay: £30,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Canteen
- Company pension
- Flexitime
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- Do you hold a full UK driving licence and have access to your own vehicle for commuting to the Ashford area?
- Do you have the permanent Right to Work in the UK without sponsorship?
- Do you have more than 2 years' experience in a relevant mechanical engineering product development role?
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Ashford (Kent, South East Region)
